eldest son, who had long been wishing for his father's death, induced one of his slaves to undertake to assassinate him; and accordingly, when the King was one day examining some jewels, this slave drew his dagger and stabbed him to the heart. This event took place in the year 950. The slave flew to relate the news to Jumsheed, who, fearing lest the circumstance of his connivance might become known, struck the assassin dead on the spot. A. H. 950. Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah reigned for a period of nearly thirty-three years, and left three sons, Jumsheed, Heidur, and Ibrahim. JUMSHEED KOOTB SHAH. The King unites with the King of Ahmudnuggur against the King of Beejapoor - takes the fort of Kakny - besieges Etgeeris compelled to retreat — pursued by the Beejapoor army receives a severe wound in the face which disfigures him for life-contracts a lingering disease—his brothers fly from the capital out of apprehension - his death. On the death of his father, Jumsheed Kootb Shah ascended the throne, and was congratulated on the occasion by the arrival of the holy Shah Tahir, prime minister and spiritual guide of Boorhan Nizam Shah. Sometime after, a war breaking out between the Adil Shahy and Nizam Shahy sovereigns, Jumsheed Kootb Shah collected his forces in support of the latter, and marched to Kakny, where he built a strong fort. Adil Shah, being fully engaged at that moment in opposing the united forces of Ramraj and Boorhan Nizam Shah, could not spare troops to oppose Kootb Shah, so that the latter monarch marched from Kakny to the fort of Etgeer, which he invested; but in the mean time, Ibrahim Adil Shah having concluded a peace with his other enemies, Assud Khan Lary was detached with a considerable force to raise the siege of Etgeer. Jumsheed Kootb Shah now wrote to Boorhan Nizam Shah, stating, that he had only acted in concert with him and Ramraj, and upbraided him for making peace without consulting him or advising him of the transaction. Boorhan Nizam Shah said, that he had only done so as a temporary measure of policy; and recommended Jumsheed Kootb Shah to keep a good garrison in Kakny, promising that after the rains he would act in concert in attacking the Adil Shahy territory, and would occupy all the country east of the Beema. He proposed that Etgeer, Sagur, and Koolburga, should belong to Kootb Shah, and Nuldoorg and Sholapoor to Nizam Shah. Jumsheed Kootb Shah, aware of the intriguing character of his ally, not only retained Kakny, but laid closer siege to Etgeer. The Beejapoor general, in the first instance, attacked and carried by storm the fort of Kakny, after a siege of three months, putting the whole garrison to the sword, and from thence proceeded by forced marches to Etgeer. On his approach, Jumsheed Kootb Shah raised the siege and retreated to his own territories, pursued by Assud Khan the Beejapoor general, who in several actions which took place was always victorious. In the last of these actions Assud Khan encountered the King of Golconda, and cut him down with a sabre, which struck off the tip of his nose, his cheek, and part of his upper lip. This wound not only disfigured him for the rest of his life, but rendered it difficult for him either to eat or drink. Upon his return to his capital he sent ambassadors, who concluded a peace with the Beejapoor monarch, and afterwards employed himself in reducing much of the country of the Hindoos. During these wars he fell sick, and for two years was in a lingering state of health. As his distemper increased, his disposition became morose, and he put many persons to death on the most trivial occasion. His cruelty now excited the terror of his subjects; and his two brothers fled to Bidur, where Heidur Khan, the eldest, shortly afterwards died, and his younger brother Ibrahim fled to Beejanuggur. In the mean time, Jumsheed Kootb Shah died, in the beginning of the year 957, after a reign of nearly seven years. A. H. 957. 328 IBRAHIM KOOTB SHAH. Account of his flight from Golconda; and his reception at the Hindoo court of Beejanuggur described throne — his arrival at Golconda is invited to ascend the engages to attack the Beejapoor territory-withdraws from the war-engages to assist the King of Beejapoor against Ahmudnuggur — he suddenly withdraws from the alliance - espouses Beeby Jumally, the daughter of Hoossein Nizam Shah-engages to assist in the reduction of Kulliany-the confederacy is dissolved-becomes a party in the general league of the Mahomedans against Ramraj — is present at the battle of Talikota — his son, the Prince Abdool Kadur, aims at the throne - he is seized, and put to death. The King's illness — his death. - THE following account may serve to show to what lengths the practice of duelling was at this period carried in the Deccan. While Ibrahim Kootb Shah, during his brother's lifetime, was at Beejanuggur, Ramraj showed him every attention, and assigned for his support an estate which was at that time possessed by Ambur Khan the Abyssinian, an officer in Ramraj's pay. Ambur Khan, enraged at the alienation of his estate, and meeting Ibrahim Kootb Shah in the streets of Beejanuggur, accused him of depriving him of it. The latter replied that monarchs were at liberty to dispose of their own property, and that the King of Beejanuggur had chosen to give him the estate. Ibrahim Kootb |